# Athene cunicularia hypugaea The Burrowing Owl is a small, clever bird that lives in underground burrows. They have long legs and big eyes, and they can be found in open areas like grasslands and deserts. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Western Burrowing Owl ![Athene cunicularia hypugaea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Western_burrowing_owl%252C_Glenn_County-0550.jpg&width=800) Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_burrowing_owl%252C_Glenn_County-0550.jpg) ## Appearance The Athene cunicularia hypugaea is a small, long-legged owl with sandy-brown plumage, spotted white. It has distinctive bright yellow eyes and prominent white eyebrows, lacking ear tufts found on many other owl species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Strigiformes - **Family:** Strigidae - **Genus:** Athene ## Interesting facts - Burrowing owls sometimes store extra prey inside their homes for a future snack! - Their diet includes scorpions, and they sometimes remove the stinger before eating! - These clever owls decorate their burrow entrances with poop to attract tasty insects! - They wag their tails up and down when they get excited or feel threatened! ## Special abilities - **Subterranean Dweller:** Athene cunicularia hypugaea can live underground in burrows, which helps them stay safe from predators and bad weather. - **Rattlesnake Impersonator:** Athene cunicularia hypugaea can mimic a rattlesnake's hiss to scare away intruders from its nest or burrow. - **Daylight Hunter:** Athene cunicularia hypugaea can hunt during the day, which helps them find food when many other owls are sleeping. - **Ground Runner:** Athene cunicularia hypugaea can run quickly on the ground, which helps them chase insects and escape from danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 19-28 cm - **Wingspan:** 50-61 cm - **Weight:** 0.14-0.24 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-9 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 6-11 - **Incubation:** 28-30 days - **Migration Distance:** 3000 km ## Diet & Feeding These owls feast on a diverse menu of insects and small rodents, often hunting by day or night. - **Primary Foods:** Grasshoppers, Beetles, Mice, Voles, Scorpions, Lizards - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** Black-tailed Prairie Dog (*Cynomys ludovicianus*) — Uses abandoned burrows for nests and refuge. - **Eaten by:** Ord's Kangaroo Rat (*Dipodomys ordii*) — A common prey item in their North American habitat. - **Eaten by:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Frequently hunted, especially during breeding season. - **Hunts:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Predatory bird that poses a threat to young owls. - **Symbiotic with:** [Western Diamondback Rattlesnake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-diamondback-rattlesnake) (*Crotalus atrox*) — Shares burrows, sometimes with a tense coexistence. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a Burrowing Owl, watch quietly from a distance so you don't scare it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Athene cunicularia hypugaea? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Athene cunicularia hypugaea? 19-28 cm ### What is Athene cunicularia hypugaea's wingspan? 50-61 cm ### How much does Athene cunicularia hypugaea weigh? 0.14-0.24 kg ### How long does Athene cunicularia hypugaea live? 6-9 years ### How fast can Athene cunicularia hypugaea move? 50 km/h ### What does Athene cunicularia hypugaea eat? These owls feast on a diverse menu of insects and small rodents, often hunting by day or night. ### Where is Athene cunicularia hypugaea usually found? Grasslands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Athene cunicularia hypugaea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/athene-cunicularia-hypugaea)